megann831

This is our 1st cruise with kids, they'll will have just turned 2 and 4. I don't expect my 2 year old to be interested in going. I've seen the schedule of activities and I really think my 4 year old will love it. I'd love to be able to do the activities with her, and we'll definitely be there for any family events they have, put I plan to make some time for her to get there on sea days, not because I don't want to spend time with her, but because I think she'll have so much fun there. If she doesn't want to no big deal.

They did 2 night cruises to nowhere.

 

This cruise doesn't require a foreign port stop.

 

 

 

5 night cruises to Canada - stops in Halifax, Nova Scotia and St. John, New Brunswick.

 

8 night cruises to the Bahamas - stops in Nassau, Castaway Cay, and Port Canaveral.

 

These cruises only require any foreign port stop.

I hope they do a cruise to nowhere again

a few years ago Disney ran a cruise out of NY or NJ for the summer. We're from NJ and I'd love to take the kids on a Disney cruise, does anyone know if they have any planned for anywhere on the east coast, Maryland and north?

Also, I saw the other day a special on the Disney cruise. I was very impressed so I checked it out online. I was shocked to find a 4 night, inside room would cost my $2000/person. We're used to going away for a week with a balcony for that. Are Disney cruises typically that much more than other lines? Is a Disney cruise a good option for a little girl to have a Disney Princess experience? My kids are almost 2 and 4 now, so they'd probably be 4 and 6 if we ever go. I'm assuming at 6 she'd still be into princesses. I was figuring we'd go to Disney World around then, but I'd rather do the cruise if she'd still get to meet all the princesses.

I heard between 3 and 30 inches this weekend. /QUOTE]

 

We were supposed to get 6-8 inches today and ended up with *maybe* 1/2 an inch and a load of rain.

 

We did nothing but talk about the Super Bowl yesterday, and today as me and all my other teacher friends were getting ready for work we got the no school call and it snowed all day. If I was planning on leaving here at 7 and being on a cruise by 1, like I am in April, I would have been screwed.

we're taking our 4 year old and almost 2 year old on this exersion. I'm hoping for the best, but if there are any problems I'll complain and hopefully get a refund. I'm thinking maybe we should have done a day at the Sheraton, I'm not opposed to bringing kids in a taxi w/out carseats, but my husband thinks with the kids we should stick to excursions. I also think going to the Sheraton or some day pass would be easier with kids because if they get tiered or cranky, you can just leave. I would not try to bring a stroller to the beach. Here in NJ I bring my jogger to the beach all the time, its a huge PIA, but doable. I could never bring it on a boat ride. Any stroller small enough to go on a small boat I don't think would work on the beach. I do find it kind of interesting that both posters waited 1 1/2 hours to get on their boat, but then left early. It also didn't waste 1 1/2 hours of their time, since either way they'd need travel time. Maybe if we're waiting 45 minutes just to leave, we'll dead off to the Sheraton and deal with the excursion desk later. We're not going till April so hopefully they solve their issues by then. Another big reason we're going is to avoid hagglers, which I heard even bother you at the Atlantis.

If I'm spending a few grand on a cruise and I'm up because a baby is crying next door, or trying to relax on my balcony because the baby next door is screaming, and the parent gives me a gift bag to thank me for my patience, I'm going to be pissed off. Sort of like sorry for messing with your vacation, hope this makes up for it. It won't. I understand why you might do that in an apartment building when you have no choice but ot have some loud nights when sleep training, but on a vacation, you do what it takes to keep your kid well behaved. On the cruises we've been on I don't even remember seeing my neighbors much. I'll be cruising with a 2 and 4 year old, if we have a loud night, I'll be avoiding the neighbors, not knocking on their door with gifts. Although I do like the idea of buying drinks

I would never put on her what she can afford. I think it would be alot easier on everyone if you let her know that you're going in May because it's so much cheaper. You may be able to afford to go in July, but I think it will be easier on everyone if you just let her think you're looking out for the best deal. Why not offer to fly to her to visit her in July for her birthday?

I know you mentioned your family, but you only referred to her kids, do you have children? If not why not suggest she ask her ex to keep them while she goes with you in May? I'm not sure how divorces work, or certainly not hers, but I hate the fact that because I"m a teacher I'm suck around a ton of kids when ever I go away at twice the price then if I got to go when it was quite. If you don't have to play around a kid's schedule I wouldn't. Also, depending on her kid's ages she's going to be limited to what she can do. We're doing our 1st cruise with kids this year and I know it will be totally different than our pre-kid cruises. If you don't have kids you may not want to be tied down like that

We're cruising in April, my daughter will be 4 in March and my son will be 2 in May. I would go on a cruise with my daughter tomorrow without giving it a 2nd thought, for us it's my son who I'm a little concerned about.

I don't know when you're going, but until then I'd try and work with your 4 year old and her attitude. By the time my daughter was my son's age, she was pretty close to being a big sister. I think because we've always looked at her as a bit older than she was, and needed her to be a bit more mature, she's been so managable since 2, and definetly after 3. I see I let my son get away with so much more because he's the baby. I can understand where the youngest can be the biggest challenge because you baby them, if you can I'd work on that.

My daughter started daycare at 2 1/2, and then I switched her so after being home with my for the summer she started a new one at 3 1/2. She did great the 1st few days of both and was so excited. The excitement wore off after a few days, and when she was 2 it led to crying for several days at drop off. I think at this age if you talk things up and let them know how exciting it will be, they're so into it the 1st few days they don't give you any problems. I'd also be sure to talk to her upfront about what you expect as far as behaviors and what the consequences will be. I know this is bad parenting advice, and at 4 it may not work as well anymore, but when my daughter gives me a problem anywhere in public and I can tell reason is not going to get me out of a situation, I quickly look real serious and kind of nervous and tell her about the man who is looking at us and going to come yell at her and not let her there anymore if we don't leave. I have fun with it and really play it up. Again, horrible parenting advice, but you want to enjoy your vacation, so if it works, go with it.

we're traveling from NJ to MD to go on the Pride in April and we'll be leaving Sunday morning. I heard between 3 and 30 inches this weekend. For the amount you're spending on the cruise, I wouldn't risk it and would spring for the hotel for the night. You could always wait till later in the week to see what they're saying. Your husband could still drive down with you Saturday and spend that night, then leave in the morning. It would be nice to break up the ride for him

we have an excursion booked through Carnival to Balmoral beach. It's a private beach, you go on a little boat ride to get there, so it's supposed to be safe and no one really bothers you. My daughter will have just turned 4 and my son will be be almost 2. If we have time and feel comfortable, I guess we might use the stroller around the straw market for my son, but I wouldn't drag it to the beach, it's easier just to hold him then try to get a stroller around the sand.

are you traveling with others? Maybe one of the kids could bunk with a grandparent or something so you don't need an extra room

We're cruising in April with our 2 and 4 year olds. We'll spend 2 days at sea, Wednesday we're doing Disney, Thursday Nassau from 11:30-8 we'll be at Balmar beach, then maybe some shopping or something when we get back. Friday we'll be at Freeport from 7:30-1:30. I'm thinking by this point I will have 2 over tiered, cranky kids and it won't be worth it to spend money on an excursion we'd have to wake up early and run out for. Maybe we'll walk around near the ship a bit, and call it a day. Any suggestions for a low-key day at Freeport? This might be a good time for the kids to pick out a souvenir to two, I don't know if I feel comfortable bringing them around the straw market at Nassau. Are there any save, cute shopping areas?

what do you like/dislike about it? Have you experienced long waits? Do you join dinners in the middle of their meal?

I'm a big planner and always on time, so I'm used to people coming after me, maybe it wasn't as much later as I thought. I have requested our own table. I've heard not so great things about ATD. What are your opinions on that? On port days I don't know if we'll make it back, so I figure there would be 2 nights we'd be in the buffet, but maybe ATD would be a better option. We should show up around 6:30 then if we want the kids to see the wait staff perform at 7?

we always do the early dinner, and I'm always right on time. This is our 1st time with our kids, so I assume we may be running a little late some nights, I'd also like them to be able to see the waitors sing and dance. If we show up between 6:15 and 6:30 that's ok right?

We're going in April with our 2 young children and I'm starting to get nervous. We were thinking of booking an excursion to Balmoral beach. It's a private island so I'm hoping that should be ok.

I was just wondering because I assumed the adult area would be quite so both my son and I could relax. I'm sure we'll be able to find other quite areas without being stuck in our room.

Since you don't want to spend extra on the balcony, I know my suggestion won't help, but we got a suite, that way we have a tub to bathe the kids, we have the balcony to hang out on at night and during naps, and we have a little extra space.

I haven't cruised since getting pregnant, almost 5 years ago, so I didn't pay attention to kid things at the time, other than wonder why people would cruise with their kids, now I understand wanting to do that. I don't remember ever seeing a blow up pool on deck, it seems ridiculous and something people would trip over, because who is looking for a blow up pool? However according to these boards people do it. I would think you may have some trouble with a 2 year old though. Under a year is easy and wouldn't know or care one way or another. By 2 they see a big pool, lots of people, lots of fun, and I don't see how you'd be able to distract her with a blow up.

When we do out 1st cruise with kids this April my daughter will be 4 and long out of diapers, my son will be just shy of 2. I have every intention of bringing him in the pool if thats what they want to do. It's a little easier with a boy because people won't notice the swim diaper, but i have never had an issue with poop getting out of his diaper so I don't understand why they need to be so strict about that rule. I believe the only want this happens is when a child is not wearing a swim diaper. If your daughter is that close to being potty trained, I'd give it a shot and take her in.

we're cruising on the Pride, I believe they have one of those adult only areas. I have a horrible time getting my son to nap and we usually resort to sleeping in the car, so I'm planning on having him doing most of his napping in the stroller, another option that usually works well. I was thinking it might be more enjoyable for who ever is on baby duty, or both of us if our daughter is at camp, if we can stroll him into the adult swim area rather than hanging out in the room or on the balcony. Do you think it's an issue to have a sleeping 2 year old in a stroller in the adult pool area? When we wakes up we would leave.

We're taking our 2 and 4 year old on a Carnival cruise in April. We're going to Disney when we stop at Port Canaveral. The following day we'll be at Nassau from 11-8 and the next day Freeport from 7-1:30. My husband thinks we should do excursions everyday because it will be easier with the kids, I think it will be easier to get a taxi and go to the beach. What do you suggest? What beaches do you like in the area? I need to get off the boat, but our day in Freeport will be so short, any suggestions for then. If we looked into a bike excursion do they offer child seats? This is our 1st cruise with kids, we used to love those bike, hike, swim excursions, but we'll be much limited this time.

S/O rules on a cruise, we're taking our daughter who will be 4 in March and our son who will be 2 in May on a cruise in April. I thought the suggestion about a wrist band with the cabin number is a great idea. Does Carnival do this or should we bring our own. I'm assuming since they are so young I don't really need to go over rules other than to stay with us.

My daughter has a peanut allergy, is there a spot for that on the bracelet? Because of that, and I'm worried about her getting lost from the group, I'll probably keep her with us for dinner, but if she did want to go to the kid club for dinner do they serve food with peanuts? like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches?

I wish that was an option, but I'm a teacher and my vacation times are very limited.

I mean will my 4 year old be able to stay with me during the mommy and me time in the morning with me and my 1 year old.

My son will be a few weeks shy of 2 when we sail. I understand they have some time in the morning that I can hang out with him at CC. Is it open to older campers then, or will my 4 year old be able to stay with us? My daughter is very attached to me and I do want to spend lot of family time on the cruise. Depending on the time she might enjoy breakfast with daddy at the MDR, but I'm sure she'd also enjoy hanging out with me and her brother at CC. Will she be able to stay with us?

My son will be a few weeks shy of 2 when we sail. I understand they have some time in the morning that I can hang out with him at CC. Is it open to older campers then, or will my 4 year old be able to stay with us? My daughter is very attached to me and I do want to spend lot of family time on the cruise. Depending on the time she might enjoy breakfast with daddy at the MDR, but I'm sure she'd also enjoy hanging out with me and her brother at CC. Will she be able to stay with us?